17th July 2025
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
15th July 2025
International Day of Women in Diplomacy: UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls visit to Geneva
1st May 2025
The UN Commission on the Status of Women: My first visit as UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls
16th April 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria
Bulgaria in the 80s: Sad and Suppressed
by David Holt This week’s #100UKBG stories are of spouses Denise and David Holt, who had separate encounters with Bulgaria – Denise in “the dark days of the 60s” and David – in “the sad 80s”. First we will present David’s story; Denise’s one will follow later in the week. David Holt was a diplomat with the FCO, serving in […]
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16th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Youth is Wasted on the Young
The bloom of youth seems to offer everything: good health, endless reserves of energy and an unquestionable thirst for knowledge. Yet young people today face enormous challenges. Over 75 million young people are unemployed worldwide. The fact is that the world has become a much more competitive place. Studying for a good education, finding a […]
15th April 2014 Bucharest, Romania
What makes Great Britain GREAT – views from the kids
In today’s guest blog, my colleague in the communications section, Catalina Neagu, talks about the embassy’s involvement in the ‘Scoala altfel’ program. Last week, we hosted the students from School 79, grade VI A, as part of the ‘Scoala altfel’ program. They had a chance to talk about what it means to be a diplomat, […]
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15th April 2014 Dublin, Ireland
The UK and Ireland: diplomatic relations… – guest post by Sarah Tiffin, Deputy Head of Mission
Tomorrow my husband Pádraig and I will hold a reception in our home to mark the occasion of the State Visit last week to the United Kingdom of the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. Our situation is an unusual one. I am Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy here in Warsaw, and […]
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14th April 2014 Havana, Cuba
Will the next Wayne Rooney be Cuban?
Thanks to Rhys Patrick, Second Secretary in the British Embassy, Havana for this week’s blog. Last month I visited Camaguey and Ciego de Avila, two provinces in central Cuba famous for their farming and stunning archipelagos. When British pirate Henry Morgan visited Camaguey in 1668 he sacked the city and locked the town leaders in the Cathedral […]
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14th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The quality of education
Education, education, education. Those were the priorities that a former British Prime Minister famously described his government would pursue, if they were re-elected. I enjoyed discussing education last week as a guest introductory speaker at an international forum on the quality of higher education. From my experiences of talking to officials from others countries, I’ve […]
14th April 2014 Pretoria, South Africa
100 days to go to the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Guest Blogger Deputy High Commissioner Martin Reynolds: Today is the last major milestone to the opening of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on 23 July 2014. Its only 100 days to go before Scotland opens its arms to the Commonwealth with the start of one of the most impressive sporting festivals in the world. By that […]
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14th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
10 things I like about Romania
On leaving Romania, here are a few of my favourite things… 1. Shajjad and Katie Rizvi and the Temerari at Little People. You guys rock! 2. Monasteries, especially Putna, Voronets, Horezu, Bistrita and Schitul Darvari in Bucharest 3. The fabulously talented kids of School No 136 in Ferentari 4. And ‘Fiecare copil in grădiniță’ in […]
14th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Ethiopia’s First Female DPM
‘Women in Leadership’ is not a new concept in Ethiopia. From Queen Eleni, the wife of the Ethiopian Medieval King ZeraYaqob, to Empress Taitu, this country has had its share of iron ladies. So may I congratulate Her Excellency W/ro Aster Mamo, just appointed Deputy Prime Minister #DPM for Good Governance and Reform and Minister […]
13th April 2014 Yerevan, Armenia
Two nations letting out a most heartfelt and longed for sigh of relief
We overuse the word ‘historic’, but this week in the UK something historic took place. For the first time since the Republic of Ireland became independent over 90 years ago, and three years after the Queen’s groundbreaking first visit to Dublin, the President of Ireland came to the UK for a state visit, as a special guest […]
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